A broken hand could not break Austin Springer on Saturday.
The Vancouver mixed martial arts professional won the Prime Fighting promotion’s featherweight belt by beating Hawaiian Toby Misech in the main event of Prime Fighting 6 at the Clark County Event Center.
Springer won by technical knockout late in the fifth round. In the longest fight of his career, Springer lasted 20 minutes after suffering a broken left hand in the first 5-minute round. The win improved him to 9-1 as a professional MMA fighter.
“I just had to adapt and overcome,” Springer said on Monday, admitting that the injury was very painful but that nothing could be done about it during the fight.
The injury happened when Springer tried a left hook that landed on the top of his opponent’s head.
In the second round a punch from Misech (8-5 in pro bouts) opened a cut on the left side of Springer’s forehead.
“I felt like when I was in the fight I lost rounds one and two, and won rounds three and four,” Springer said.
He figured the final five minute round would decide the winner.
“I was tired and hurt, but I knew the last five minutes mattered the most,” Springer said.
He said without the support from the local fans, his will might have faltered after the hand injury. Alasdair Mackenzie, majority owner of Prime Fighting LLC, said the crowd was bigger than expected. On Monday he said he did not yet have an official attendance number.
Springer’s path to victory started with a double-leg take down. Once he had Misech on the mat, Springer kept punching until the fight was halted.
“I felt him mentally break and that motivated me and I just kept going,” Springer said.
He credited the work of his coaches — Ian Loveland, Andy Minsker, Cory Gilday and Ryan Miacedo — for preparing him for the fight for the stamina that allowed him to survive for nearly 25 minutes.
In addition to an undisclosed winner’s purse, Springer earned the $2,500 bonus as the fighter of the night.
